But now I had a problem because there were only so many people I could kick out or have issues with before it looked likeIwas the issue.
No matter how valid and right I was.
Awesome.
Myriam had also managed to get her hands on a potion to induce a dragon’s heat. It was a recreational drug basically, but I hadn’t even talked to Thorn since our encounter in the lounge. That whole situation wasn’t awkward, especially given whathissituation was and we hadn’t spoken.
So awesome again.
Treena and I were discussing how to handle it—if I even should with him or if it was just too much before my head exploded when I heard something that might finally push me over the edge.
“It’s all fake and completely meant to placate the other Alphas because they’re upset I’m going to be her mate,” Kole said flippantly from one of the lounges off the ballroom.
Right off the main hallway whereanyonecould have heard him.
Where we easily heard him.
I stopped dead and fisted my hands while Treena’s eyes went too wide.
“I heard it’s real from one of my other friends and you’re in hot water,” a female voice said with a chuckle.
“Did you know he was inviting other women over?” Treena asked quietly.
“No, he said his buddies from school, but I don’t care about that,” I replied at the same volume.
“No, but otherswillwhen they know your relationship isn’t great,” she worried. And she was right.
Kole snorted. “Please, they fell for it then. Sagan has to do this because the elders tricked her and started this whole mess. We’ll be mated before next year. It’s done. She’s been in love with me for years now.”
I was moving towards the door before I even realized it. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but it wasn’t good.
Kill him. Maybe fucking kill him for telling people about what the elders had done.
“I know you said it was love at first sight, but you’re not even engaged,” a man pushed, clearly wanting gossip.
“Because we’re young. Now everything’s changed,” Kole replied, his tone defensive. “And it was. She fell for me at first sight. She never went out with anyone, but the moment she saw me and I asked, she was hooked. I’ll leak about the competition and what happened and that will be the end of it. Done and done and we’ll mate.”
I opened my mouth to blast him but Treena was faster… By bursting out laughing.
She was laughing so hard that she actually leaned into me and it cut through my blinding rage. Her laugh was always so magical and full of life that it was honestly contagious.
Even to me who rarely laughed. I at least calmed down and smirked. Which honestly made me wonder if that was why she’d reacted that way instead of something else.
Could she have known I’d been about to go over the line and saved me from myself? Probably. That seemed like something Treena would do.
“You seriously never told him?” she gasped, bursting out laughing all over again when I looked at her like a deer in headlights.
“Told me what?” Kole demanded as he got to his feet.
I couldn’t get my mouth to work. I thought she was laughing because he sounded ridiculous and knew I would end it over this. I never imagined she would out me.
“Maybe this isn’t—” I started to say, but she waved me off.
“You were abet, idiot,” she informed Kole with a huge grin. “Sagan lost abetwith me and the punishment was she had to accept the next one who asked her out. There was no love at first sight. I was tired of men constantly annoying us by asking her out—tripping all over themselves to ask her out, so I made it the terms of a bet that she had to accept a date.
“Everyone knew she didn’t date and that was part of why it never stopped. You just said it. She never did. It was the ultimate challenge for all of yousmall-mindedfools. It was exhausting. So I won something—I forget, a grade or test and she had to accept a date. Any date. You just happened to be the next fool who asked.”
As if that wasn’t enough to unleash on him, she actually snorted and shook her head as she looked him over with pity.
